Does anyone know if the Soloflex machine is worth owning?
I think these do the same thing for less money, but there is no bench to sit on while lacing up your shoes.

No IMO. I would spend my money on a good bar and plates over machines any day (and the soloflex doesn’t appear to even be a great machine).
You could probably find 100 on craigs list for a fraction of the cost.
If it is a steal and you have the space, maybe
The only cool movement that this apparatus would be good for is the suspended, inverted sit-up (think Stallone in Rocky 4).
Otherwise ownership of said machine is not getting anyone laid…
Free weights & calisthenics FTW!
Theres none on the east coast!
There’s a couple current Craigslist posts with Soloflex machines for sale in the Mid-Atlantic region (Maryland & Pennsylvania).
Without making fun has anyone had extensive experience with the soloflex machine?
To be fair, you’re gonna have a hard time finding anyone on this site who even knows what a soloflex is. I’ve been in the lifting game for 13+ years and had to Google it. If you’re seriously looking into training with a soloflex, I do not believe T Nation is an appropriate community for you and you may be better served surfing through Reddit or Quora fitness communities.
Honestly - I got a Weider bench during lockdown from the '90s that had some leg extension thingy attached to it with some rubber ring that apparently provided the resistance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGvL2EUpzyQ
From what I can see, it’s nearly identical to the soloflex. It was absolute garbage - this looks about the same. Not to be discouraging, but I’d spend my money pretty much anywhere else.
Here’s an interesting read on the soloflex.
“not that there’s anything wrong with that…” ![]()
I get the best chest and shoulder workouts using Soloflex and shock rings.
I have had one for almost 40 years. You can dip on it, pull ups, add free weights, if you have limited room the “footprint is 4’ long, 4’ wide, and 6’ tall. It hits about 6’6” with the pull up bar.
Jerry Wilson taught himself welding, trigonometry, etc. while designing it. He approached Sears and KMart to market his product. They told him to take a long walk on a short pier. He started print ads, and then the world’s first infomercial. Frank Zane called and offered his services for an informercial, for free.
As a young man he made national news (Walter Cronkite even) for being arrested while flying in the largest load of weed into the States up to that time. His wife found out while watching the national evening news. The story goes, he was arrested on Friday. On Monday when the judge showed up, he was released for lack of evidence. Someone in the sheriff’s department heisted the load. The whole load. The cartel he was flying for gave him a pass. Who knows what happened to the thief.
When the COVID hit I was glad I still had mine.